2011 Business Outlook Survey Results From McDonald Hopkins Law Firm: Modest Improvements Expected in 2011 Business Climate --

Less than half are counting on Congress to help improve business conditions

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Jan 24, 2011, 04:05 ET

CLEVELAND, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on the McDonald Hopkins 2011 Business Outlook Survey, business owners and executives expect improvements in U.S. business conditions this year. However, concerning their own organizations, the 600 clients and friends of our firm were slightly less optimistic overall. Some 77 percent of the respondents expect U.S. business conditions to improve modestly, while only 5 percent expect significant improvement. When thinking about their own companies, 61 percent expect modest improvement and 14 percent anticipate significant improvement. Less than 5 percent of the respondents predict a decline in U.S. business conditions.

The seven-question survey was conducted via email during the first three weeks in January. Most of the survey participants are located in the states of Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Florida -- the states where McDonald Hopkins has offices.

What are the three greatest challenges facing their companies?

The three challenges cited most often by our clients and other business executives are:

Retaining profit margins -- 42%
Stiff competition -- 41%
Increasing health care costs -- 39%

As one respondent comments concerning profit margins: "Right now, it's not worth it to maintain a small business for a marginal profit."

Click below to read the full results of the McDonald Hopkins Business Outlook Survey:

McDonald Hopkins Law Firm Alert: McDonald Hopkins 2011 Business Outlook Survey Results: Modest Improvements Expected in 2011 Business Climate

http://www.mcdonaldhopkins.com/alerts/alert.aspx?id=-sfmug-PhkyQSYvHp-f01A

About McDonald Hopkins

McDonald Hopkins is a business advisory and advocacy law firm with offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, and West Palm Beach. The firm's comprehensive legal services are provided by teams of specialized attorneys and professionals in areas such as business law, litigation, business restructuring and bankruptcy, estate planning, government affairs, healthcare, intellectual property, labor and employment, and mergers and acquisitions. The president of McDonald Hopkins is Carl J. Grassi. For more information about McDonald Hopkins, visit www.mcdonaldhopkins.com.